How to Maintain Vibrant Hair and Avoid Winter Damage

The weather may be “meh” but that’s no excuse to let your hair go the same way. Summer is fading into autumn but you can still maintain bright and vibrant youthful-looking hair. The palette takes on different colored hues this time of year but the same shine and lustre is still achievable. Vibrant hair means healthy hair. When it comes to the primary causes of damage, let’s just say that there’s a lot of “hairsay” rather than hairspray being used. Grandma might know best about a lot of things but trust us, the Number 4 team knows how to kick seasonal dullness firmly into the ditch where it belongs. The information out there contradicts itself, leaving you totally confused. Maybe you’ve heard:

• Don’t brush your hair while it’s wet
• Don’t brush your hair when it’s dry
• Don’t shampoo every day
• Do shampoo every day

It’s exhausting! Dah-ling. What’s a gal supposed to do?

So let’s set the record straight with our literal lowdown on the worse things you can do to your hair. Ain’t no debate; these are the things your hair loves to hate!

Aggressive Brushing You’re not auditioning for Tangled! There’s no need to yank that firm bristled brush 100 times through your hair before bed. Keep it gentle to prevent dry ends from snapping right off.

Quit Overwashing We all have a different hair texture so what constitutes overwashing for you, might be essential maintenance for your BFF. The trick is not to strip the hair of essential oils. As a very general rule of thumb, limit to every other day. And invest in a quality, professional, paraben-free shampoo and conditioner like N4’s Clarifying range, part of your Essential Collection.

Always Use a Heat Styling Protectant If you want to keep on top of those luminous locks you need to create an invisible barrier between your hair and your heat styling tools to minimize breakage. Try using a heat styling protectant like N4’s Thermal Styling Spray or Blow Dry Lotion to reduce stress and damage. Cocktail these products with Support Solution and not only will you achieve thermal protection, but also smooth, frizz-free finish.

Dial Down The Temperature Ditto on this point too. Hotter doesn’t mean faster, it means damage. Sure, coarser hair can handle a bit more heat, but fine or curly, a heat protecting spray is a must to maintain hydrated hair. Try N4’s Super Comb Prep & Protect, another hard-working product from the Essential Collection.

Chemical Processing If you want vibrant colored hair, you’re probably thinking only chemicals will do. But there are options. You could go for something like a “demi-permanent” process - ie a glossing treatment - as opposed to a double-process bleach. Either way, the key is to keep hair hydrated and invest in a range of hair care products that actively repair the damage caused by repeatedly using heat styling tools and harsh processing treatments. Looking to bring hair vibrance back? Then go ahead and check out N4’s Essentials Collection and while you’re at it, enjoy 20% off when you use the code ESSENTIALS20. Because this Fall, we’re all about the Treat, not the Trick.